Major Wilhelm Lessmann Stab JG 52

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

I just studied the career of this German ace and found that in the JFV 6 book by Prien and co, four claims are listed between 5 October and 30 November 1941, being shown as the kills 2 to 5 for the pilot and 7 to 10 for the unit (Stab JG 52).

Then in JFV 9/I, the next kill by this pilot is the 11th of Stab JG 52 (so coherent), but shown as his 12th personnal.

AFAIK he didn't score between the two dates, so I guess that sometiems between the release of these two books, more has been learned.

Anothe hypothesis will be that Lessmann was supposed to have score 24 victories by the time of his death on 2 June 1942, and "reverse counting" was used to number his 13 victories (all known) between 2 March 1942 and his death.

So I guess his four victories between 5 October and 30 November 1941 shoudl also be renumbered 8 to 11.

As for his former victories, one is known for sure on 20 September 1939. I found also that he possibly claimed another on 8 September 1939 (a Potez) and may have scored more with a ZG unit, but may also be confused with another Luftwaffe officer called Karl-Heinz Lessman.

Any comment of a member of Prien's team (to explain the numbering of 1942 kills) or of the EOE team (to give more data about Lessmann in 1939-1940) will be appreciated ?

Thanks in advance

Laurent

[Marius]

Hello,
nothing is for sure without reliable documents.
For example the victory on the 20th September 1939 is just... fantasy.

Regards,

[robert]

Why fantasy? They just met no Battle`s but other allied aircraft - one belly-landed and two returned damaged.
Marius you just causing a commotion.

Robert

[Marius]

No, I just read documents. According to them all victories on the 20th September 1939 were gone to JG 53 (including 3 balloons).

I never saw an official document stating something about JGr.152 victories on this day. And you?

Happy Christmas!

[robert]

This combat took place in late evening. I think you saw only OKW Bericht or Luftlagebericht West. More documents could be found at NARA.

Merry Christmas also to you and your familly.

Robert

[Marius]

Tagesmeldung an OKW 21.9.1939 10.00 Uhr
1.) Weitere Ergänzung der Meldung vom 20.9.1939:
...
Der Einsatz der eigenen Abwehrkräfte im Raume um Saarbrücken und Pirmasens hatte den Abschuss von 8 feindlichen Flugzeugen und 3 Fesselballonen zur Folge: davon wurden 7 Flugzeuge und 3 Fesselballone durch eigene Jäger (J.G. 53), 1 Flugzeug durch Flak abgeschossen.

According to this document there is no place for JGr.152. Maybe the pilots had an encounter with the enemy. That`s not the question. The question is if something was officially credited to JGr.152. I mean a late evening victory should be known until 10.00 hours of the following day.
As I wrote earlier, I just read documents.

[robert]

And do you know how many combats took place on 20.9.39?
I see only 5 claims by JG53 as well as two barrage ballons :-) Who claimed the rest (2+1)?

Robert

[Marius]

I think much more interesting question is the SOURCE of Lessmann`s victory on the 20th Sept. 1939. Do you know it?

And apparently the publicated JG 53 victories aren`t complete and maybe erroneous in some places.